UP to felicitate CWG medal winners from state

Lucknow, April 19 The Uttar Pradesh government will be soon honouring five sportspersons from the state who won medals at the 21st Commonwealth Games (CWG) held in Australia, an official said on Thursday.

The gold medallists will get Rs 50 lakh each, while the silver medallists will get Rs 30 lakh each and those who won bronze will get Rs 15 lakh each, the official from the sports department said.

India has won a total of 66 medals -- 26 gold, 20 silver and 20 bronze. Among the winners is Punam Yadav from Varanasi, who won a gold in weightlifting.

Talking to IANS, Sports Minister Chetan Chauhan said the state government was "all for encouraging players, especially the new blood to take up sports as a profession".

He added Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had asked him, some time ago, to do whatever was possible to promote sports in the state, especially in the countryside, where there is a lot of talent pool but very little facilities.

Chauhan also said every sportsperson from the state, who had participated in the CWG games will also be given Rs 5 lakh each.

Medal winners will also get government jobs in various departments as per their eligibility, officials said.

Under the sports quota, there are 11 departments in the state government and when vacancies arise, these players and athletes will be assimilated into government jobs, officials added.